A Roman Atlatl?

[Spurius Papirius Cursor]

I remember reading that Thracian Peltasts used some sort of thong wrapped around their short spears to give them a wicked reach - so much so that hoplites had to intersperse their ranks with a lighter version of their type to nip out and deal with Peltast harassers. Is that thong the amentum?

I often wondered whether the Peltast might have been an inspiration for Rome's velites but I don't recall ever reading that velites used any form of throwing aid. (Mind you, I don't recall reading that they didn't :? either).

Cheers

Howard/SPC